Q&A: Zeroing in on exactly the right job

Updated 10:59 pm, Friday, February 24, 2012

Steve Van Pelt of Water Standard has found there's a high demand for process engineers in Houston.

Steve Van Pelt of Water Standard has found there's a high demand for process engineers in Houston.

Photo: J. Patric Schneider

Q&A: Zeroing in on exactly the right job

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When Steve Van Pelt attended a LinkedIn networking mixer last fall, he knew the market for process engineers was hot.

But it wasn't until a few weeks later - after he had submitted his résumé to a recruiter he met at the mixer - that he realized how in-demand his position really was. Van Pelt was working at Jacobs Engineering at the time, and although he was content in his job, he was interested in hearing about new opportunities.

After going on three different interviews and getting three offers, he chose a position as a process engineer at Water Standard, which designs, constructs and operates mobile water treatment systems, primarily for oil and gas, municipal and industrial clients. Edited excepts follow:

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Q: Were you actively looking for a job when you heard about the opening at Water Standard?

A: Yes, but my situation was unique in that I wasn't looking to run from my position at Jacobs Engineering. I was in a good spot but open to opportunities because of what I saw going on in Houston's business landscape. When I ran into a recruiter I knew at the LinkedIn mixer, I told her I was kind of looking to see what was out there, and that got her attention. She put me in touch with her boss, and I was in contact with him from that point on.

Q: Did he have a lot of different opportunities to present to you?

A: He had a number of different positions because there is so much activity right now in this area. He said he could put me on 20 interviews tomorrow, but that wasn't what I was looking for. I was very specific about what I was looking for in terms of my growth, so there were only a few companies that fit the bill.

Q: Water Standard has several engineering positions open and is actively adding new engineers to its payroll. Is there a high demand for your position in the industry right now?

A: Yes. Process engineers are on the front end of projects in terms of conceptual design. When things went sour in 2008 in terms of the market, people started getting laid off. But now that things have picked up, process engineers are affected immediately when new projects come in the door. In addition, the talent pool is very shallow in Houston right now.

Q: Had you heard of Water Standard before he presented the opportunity to you?

A: No, I had not heard of them, but I started doing my homework and realized that they had undergone quite a few transitions in terms of their technologies and the industries they were applying it to.

Q: Did you go on any other interviews?

A: I had gone on two interviews prior to this one. One was separate from this recruiter, and the other was one that he had set up. I had gotten offers at both, but they weren't exactly what I wanted to do, so I turned them down and remained patient.

Q: Was the idea that Water Standard was more of an entrepreneurial company part of what was attractive to you?

A: It wasn't something I was necessarily looking for, but I did want more exposure to business drivers that make a company a success. I was looking for a company where I could be more involved on the business side and be stimulated technically as well. It may be that I set myself up to work at an entrepreneurial company, given my criteria.

Q: Did you have a feeling after the interview about whether you had done well?

A: I think so. I think I sold my experience well. The only thing was that I am very young (graduated from college in 2008), and I looked around the company and saw people that were all very impressive leaders in their industry. So I was hoping for a chance to be taken on as someone who could pick things up quickly. They ultimately did see that. But nothing was a slam-dunk for me. I tried to keep a level head in terms of measuring one opportunity against the next. When I got the offer, I was in a very comfortable position to make a choice between two very good opportunities, one being to stay at Jacobs. After just a couple of months, I feel like I made the right decision.